Sea turtles, which are vital to marine ecosystems, need better protections to improve the health of our oceans, according to a new report[1].

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A loggerhead sea turtle (credit: Oceana)

“Our oceans are unhealthy and under significant threat from overfishing, pollution and climate change,” says the report by Oceana[3], the largest international ocean conservation group. “It is time for us to protect sea turtles and rebuild their populations to healthy levels as a vital step in ensuring healthy and resilient oceans for the future.”

As of July 21, 709 dead or injured sea turtles have been found since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill [4]began on April 20, according to an Oceana statement. While the cause of death or injury has yet to be determined for most of these turtles, the number is significantly higher than normal and 184 turtles had visible signs of oil.

The actual number of sea turtles affected may be higher, since some dead or injured sea turtles don’t wash onto beaches or aren’t found by search crews, according to the statement. Ocean currents frequently carry turtles out to sea, where they can sink or be eaten by predators.

According to the report, “Why Healthy Oceans Need Sea Turtles: The Importance of Sea Turtles to Marine Ecosystems”:

– Sea turtles have played vital roles in maintaining the health of the world’s oceans for more than 100 million years.

– People have caused sea turtle populations to decline significantly worldwide. Initially, fishing for sea turtles was the main reason for declines. Topping the list today are injury or death in commercial fisheries, habitat degradation and climate change.

– Natural resource managers are moving toward an ecosystem approach regarding the oceans. The first step is to ensure that key components of ecosystems, including sea turtles, survive. The next step is to ensure that turtle populations recover to help restore the balance among ocean species – an essential step toward restoring healthy ocean ecosystems.

– Steps that must be taken to protect and restore sea turtle populations include: reducing sea turtle interactions and deaths in commercial fisheries; protecting key habitat areas on land and in the water; and enacting a comprehensive law that establishes a system to protect and restore sea turtle populations.